Everyman is a story about death and about the degradation of one's being through time, both physically and emotionally. After many years of a plentiful lifestyle, Everyman passes away alone, without his family close to him.
Unexpected for the character, death came to him as he entered a surgery, hospitalized for the seventh year in a row, which may have a reference to the deadly sins that appear concealed throughout the story. Everyman's life is about the transition of a life full of sins to a death free of them and the purgatory behind this. This is a story about a nameless character who is failing as a father, as a husband and as a brother.
Although there is good in the story as faith, patience and hope are explored, there is also sin, failure and regret. The seven deadly sins that appear throughout the play are:
Lust
Once Everyman finds a woman he loves and with whom he wants to spend the rest of his life, he decides to have an affair with a younger woman, only to satisfy himself and due to this, he loses the best relationship he ever had "... whose devotion had been the underpinning of his strength ..."
Throughout the story, he keeps on cheating on his girlfriends and wives, even in his successful relationships "... because he is a man who cannot live without ..."
Gluttony
In the story, gluttony can be seen through the medications the characters take. For example, Millicent Kramer, who kills herself with painkillers after suffering severe backaches. Another proof of gluttony through medications is Phoebe, who puts her life in danger in order not to feel any more pain; as a consequence, she becomes half paralyzed by a stroke.
As for Everyman, in the end of the story, he chooses general anesthetic instead of local because of fear.
Greed
As Everyman looks back into his life, he remembers his "superabundant past", in which he had plenty of work to do which prevented his mind pondering over his life, but as old age gets closer and time goes by, he realizes he has chosen to live alone. This greed finally turns him against his own brother because of jealousy.
Sloth
Once retired, Everyman begins to paint in a professional way. He gives lessons at the retirement house he is in and recognizes that he enjoys doing this. According to his daughter, Nancy, he always wanted to paint but was unable to because of his family. Everyman, through the passing of time, loses the confidence he once had and becomes alienated.
Wrath
Extreme anger can be seen both in Phoebe, Randy and Lonny. As Phoebe finds out that Everyman took his lover on a romantic vacation to Paris, she gets angry at him and swears to never forgive him "... don't you dare call me by my name! ..."
At the same time, Randy and Lonny, sons of Everyman's first marriage, were left behind as he divorced his first wife, Cecilia.
Envy
Not only does Everyman envy his elder brother, Howie, because of his money, but also because of his health and his one and only marriage. Howie's life was luckier and this situation provoked a situation whereby Everyman did not speak to his brother over the last few months before his death "... suddenly he could not stand his brother in the primitive, instinctual way that his sons could not stand him."
Unlike Everyman, Howie is loved by all his family, his children and his wife.
Pride
It is said that pride is the deadliest of all sins, but when it comes down to Everyman, it is the other way round. At a young age, Everyman was successful in his career, confident in his relationships and a wealthy and good-looking man "... My God, he thought, the man I once was! ...". But by the end of the story, after all the hospitalizations and health problems, he became lonely and lost his self-esteem. The title of the book "Everyman" makes reference to the fact that anyone could become that person portrayed within the book. Not only could they live a life with moments of happiness and joy, but also experiences tainted by past sins, failures and regrets.
This book will provide pleasurable reading material for adult readers. However, it may not be the most enjoyable for teenagers, who have not yet been through many stages of their lives and who will not be able to relate to the main character. http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/everyman-the-seven-deadly-sins-78889/
Everyman, the seven deadly sins
By: Eva FerreiraEveryman is a story about death and about the degradation of one's being through time, both physically and emotionally. After many years of a plentiful lifestyle, Everyman passes away alone, without his family close to him.
Unexpected for the character, death came to him as he entered a surgery, hospitalized for the seventh year in a row, which may have a reference to the deadly sins that appear concealed throughout the story. Everyman's life is about the transition of a life full of sins to a death free of them and the purgatory behind this. This is a story about a nameless character who is failing as a father, as a husband and as a brother.
Although there is good in the story as faith, patience and hope are explored, there is also sin, failure and regret. The seven deadly sins that appear throughout the play are:
Lust
Once Everyman finds a woman he loves and with whom he wants to spend the rest of his life, he decides to have an affair with a younger woman, only to satisfy himself and due to this, he loses the best relationship he ever had "... whose devotion had been the underpinning of his strength ..."Throughout the story, he keeps on cheating on his girlfriends and wives, even in his successful relationships "... because he is a man who cannot live without ..."
Gluttony
In the story, gluttony can be seen through the medications the characters take. For example, Millicent Kramer, who kills herself with painkillers after suffering severe backaches. Another proof of gluttony through medications is Phoebe, who puts her life in danger in order not to feel any more pain; as a consequence, she becomes half paralyzed by a stroke.As for Everyman, in the end of the story, he chooses general anesthetic instead of local because of fear.
Greed
As Everyman looks back into his life, he remembers his "superabundant past", in which he had plenty of work to do which prevented his mind pondering over his life, but as old age gets closer and time goes by, he realizes he has chosen to live alone. This greed finally turns him against his own brother because of jealousy.Sloth
Once retired, Everyman begins to paint in a professional way. He gives lessons at the retirement house he is in and recognizes that he enjoys doing this. According to his daughter, Nancy, he always wanted to paint but was unable to because of his family. Everyman, through the passing of time, loses the confidence he once had and becomes alienated.Wrath
Extreme anger can be seen both in Phoebe, Randy and Lonny. As Phoebe finds out that Everyman took his lover on a romantic vacation to Paris, she gets angry at him and swears to never forgive him "... don't you dare call me by my name! ..."At the same time, Randy and Lonny, sons of Everyman's first marriage, were left behind as he divorced his first wife, Cecilia.
Envy
Not only does Everyman envy his elder brother, Howie, because of his money, but also because of his health and his one and only marriage. Howie's life was luckier and this situation provoked a situation whereby Everyman did not speak to his brother over the last few months before his death "... suddenly he could not stand his brother in the primitive, instinctual way that his sons could not stand him."Unlike Everyman, Howie is loved by all his family, his children and his wife.
Pride
It is said that pride is the deadliest of all sins, but when it comes down to Everyman, it is the other way round. At a young age, Everyman was successful in his career, confident in his relationships and a wealthy and good-looking man "... My God, he thought, the man I once was! ...". But by the end of the story, after all the hospitalizations and health problems, he became lonely and lost his self-esteem. The title of the book "Everyman" makes reference to the fact that anyone could become that person portrayed within the book. Not only could they live a life with moments of happiness and joy, but also experiences tainted by past sins, failures and regrets.This book will provide pleasurable reading material for adult readers. However, it may not be the most enjoyable for teenagers, who have not yet been through many stages of their lives and who will not be able to relate to the main character.
http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/everyman-the-seven-deadly-sins-78889/